City of End, Arcadia Headquarters.
The sky, blazing under the scorching sun, suddenly shone with a brilliant golden glow.
A hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha appeared in the air, hands forming a mudra (turning a flower), smiling as he looked down at the Arcadia headquarters below.
"Benefactor Aslan, would you come out to meet?"
A rumbling voice, like muffled thunder, exploded in the ears of everyone in the City of End.
Many even fell in pain, faces twisted, screaming.
"Hmph, is this how Buddha's people meet me?"
Aslan snorted coldly. In front of the hundred-meter golden Buddha, his figure projected, standing at the same height.
No—Aslan was slightly taller. He projected himself sitting on a sofa in a superior position, receiving the Buddha's arrival.
His figure was vaguely larger than the visitor, his aura naturally stronger.
The golden Buddha looked at Aslan, clasped his hands, and spoke gently.
"This little monk Buddha Dīpaṁkara, pleased to meet you, Benefactor."
(Buddha Dīpaṁkara?)
Aslan raised an eyebrow, his face slightly odd.
"Dingguang Xian (Immortal of Constant Radiance) from Investiture of the Gods?"
The giant Buddha's face froze, eyes and brows flashing like lightning.
*CRACK!*
The air exploded.
Aslan ignored the electric scene in the void, staring guiltlessly at Buddha Dīpaṁkara.
(Buddha? Why does this guy's Demon Spirit Status feel so strong?)
(At a glance, perfect material for demon cultivation. Hmm, good material, suitable.)
(And that Buddha voice earlier, plus the lightning from the void—looking for trouble, right?)
Aslan frowned, with a slight interrogative tone.
"Why is Buddha Dīpaṁkara looking for me?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara clasped his hands, inwardly chanting Amitabha, then said.
"This little monk wishes to ask Benefactor to reveal someone's whereabouts."
"Who?"
The corner of Aslan's mouth twitched. Algol really guessed perfectly.
Though sealed by Athena for thousands of years, she could still predict Buddha's actions accurately.
Aslan didn't know what to say.
He'd even bet with Algol last night.
Hearing this, Buddha Dīpaṁkara immediately said firmly.
"Demon Star – Algol."
"You sure?"
Aslan asked back, sighing inwardly.
As expected, he'd hoped too much from Buddha.
His relationship with Algol was good—almost everyone knew. After all, not long ago, he and Algol were partying together, even tricking Athena.
But Buddha Dīpaṁkara clearly knew this, yet deliberately came asking him to hand over Algol's location.
From the moment he arrived in the City of End, this guy used a condescending attitude.
As if Aslan were a novice monk ready for redemption, and he the true Buddha on the lotus throne.
But don't forget—Aslan just got news from Indra.
Buddha planned to support him as Heavenly Army Lord and Last King (King of the End).
So? Buddha faced him like this?
Indeed, his mistake for hoping in Buddha. He misunderstood them.
He thought Buddha's idea was Wearing the Yellow Robe (making him Emperor).
But now he saw—they wanted him a puppet on the imperial throne.
As for this being a misunderstanding? Impossible.
He didn't believe Buddha Dīpaṁkara came without the great Tathāgatas' approval? Even if personal action, likely silently permitted.
They were just testing if Aslan would kneel and beg.
But sorry—his appetite was poor. He only ate from beautiful girls, lying on their fertile thighs, hand-fed.
Everything else—forget it.
Though Aslan never planned to follow Buddha's path from the start, being treated like a soft persimmon and stepped on freely was still annoying.
Thinking this, Aslan's gaze toward Buddha Dīpaṁkara grew unfriendlier.
But first—he'd squeeze them dry.
"Benefactor Aslan, let's speak frankly. The Demon Star is in your hands, right?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara's face was gentle, but his eyes cold—he was certain Aslan would accept.
"We only need to seal her temporarily. After the Campione War, we'll return her to you with the seal."
Honestly, Algol's beauty was Little Garden's top. Even he, deep in Dharma, felt the urge to teach and redeem her upon seeing her.
Of course Aslan liked her.
But now Athena had unsealed Algol. Unsealed Algol wouldn't be so obedient and pretend.
As long as Aslan handed over the Demon Star, they could divine Algol's traces and reseal her.
Ultimately, Algol's ownership remained Aslan's—they were just holding her briefly.
Why not do this mutually beneficial cooperation?
This was why he came. As long as Aslan was wise, he'd lose nothing.
Aslan's face grew strange, eyes subtly observing, confusing Buddha Dīpaṁkara.
Buddha Dīpaṁkara frowned, looking down at himself. Certain his appearance was first-class golden Buddha body, he asked surprised.
"Benefactor Aslan, what do you mean?"
"The Demon Star is indeed still with me, but what price will you pay, Buddha Dīpaṁkara? If the price fits, it's not impossible."
Aslan's current expression was very subtle.
He found Buddha Dīpaṁkara perfect as a scapegoat. His background could be big or small. At a glance, a Buddha face.
But investigated—he was a fringe nobody noticed.
Buddha Dīpaṁkara belonged to the man-made Buddha lineage.
So-called man-made Buddhas—in ancient China's Buddha-making movement—were monks with minor fame. After death, made into Buddhas for worship.
How many such Buddhas in Buddha? At least hundreds of thousands, at most millions.
Who knew how many merits they ate in the past? All his!! His merits!!
And Buddha Dīpaṁkara was a relatively famous lineage in Buddha. Before becoming Buddha.
In Taoism, he symbolized offerings to the Moon Goddess—the folk Bunny God.
As for Dingguang Xian in Investiture of the Gods—no need to say.
Typical ungrateful representative.
Aslan had zero psychological pressure tricking him.
Moreover, the other came voluntarily to be tricked.
If he didn't act now, wouldn't he seem unwise?
Thinking this, his eyes gradually lit up. He saw Buddha Dīpaṁkara's mudra.
He lowered his head, dripped a tear, raised it. Eyes red, emotions fluctuating, like seeing kin, he said to Buddha Dīpaṁkara.
"Bodhisattva Dīpaṁkara, are you sure the price is that?"
"What has Benefactor realized?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara smiled while turning the flower, face gentle and compassionate.
"Hiss~"
Aslan drew a cold breath, unable to help saying loudly.
"Three Authorities? This price… truly generous!!"
(Wait? Something's wrong!)
Buddha Dīpaṁkara froze, seeing the Demon Star suddenly appear in his palm, eyes blank.
In the air, the hundred-meter golden Buddha's eyes were empty, as if dreaming.
In fact, he suspected he was dreaming.
Otherwise, when did he discuss Authorities with Aslan? Let alone three?
And since when did the Demon Star transfer to his hand?
Damn! Even sealed Algol's Demon Star might not sell for three Authorities.
(Your mouth is small, but straight to three Authorities?)
(How does your little brain connect to three Authorities?)
(Damn!)
Buddha Dīpaṁkara lowered his head, seeing his mudra, face slightly twisted.
He seemed to know how Aslan "got enlightened."
"Alright, when will you pay?"
Aslan's expression was slightly anxious, looking at Buddha Dīpaṁkara with familiarity.
"And these Authorities—can they be specified?"
(Why is he specifying Authorities? I haven't said anything…)
Buddha Dīpaṁkara's face turned green.
"Benefactor Aslan, is there a misunderstanding here?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Aslan's expression changed, becoming slightly dangerous.
"Wasn't that Bodhisattva's meaning? I've already handed the Demon Star to you."
"Goods and payment on the spot. Bodhisattva, don't tell me you want to…"
(Tch, poor guy. Seeing your golden body and shining Buddha light, I thought you were rich.)
"Benefactor Aslan, how could that be?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara dismissed his Dharma Buddha body, revealing his true face.
A middle-aged man with neatly combed hair, square face, and very long earlobes.
"It's just… Benefactor Aslan, this price… is there a slight mistake?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara smiled bitterly, nervously rubbing his hands, quickly stepping toward Aslan.
"What mistake? This price is perfectly accurate!"
"This information has always been this price for years—Bodhisattva Dīpaṁkara, don't speak carelessly."
Aslan's eyes widened, staring at Buddha Dīpaṁkara.
"Besides, selling Algol—my risk is very high, you know."
(But I can't afford it…)
Buddha Dīpaṁkara's expression was desperate.
He now regretted—regretted acting cheap and making that mudra.
He just learned why ancient Chinese wore wide robes for serious business.
Cruel—truly cruel.
Though not without backing, the point was his backer wasn't as good as Aslan's.
If his backer knew he set this price without opening his mouth.
He could consider returning to Taoism—but the point was Taoism no longer existed in Little Garden.
"Benefactor Aslan… no, Your Excellency Aslan, can this price be reduced a little?"
Buddha Dīpaṁkara sadly pulled Aslan's hand, raising one finger, looking at him hopefully.
Hearing this, Aslan frowned.
(So you know my identity—then why this attitude?)
(Hehe, everyone really wants to step on my head, huh.)
Aslan sneered twice inwardly, but his face softened.
"Fine—fellow Lower Layer earners. I don't want to make it hard for you. As long as you help me with something, the price can be cut a bit."